Dummy card cleaning device

ABSTRACT

The invention provides a dummy card cleaning device. The dummy card cleaning device is stored in a card slot of an electronic device to be brought along with the electronic device, so as to provide an immediate and convenient use when cleaning the electronic device. The dummy card cleaning device includes a body having a shape of dummy card, and a brush or a bristle connected to the body. The brush may be stored in an indentation of the body, or slidably, pivotally connected to the body.

RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims priority to Taiwan Application Serial Number98109283, filed Mar. 20, 2009, which is herein incorporated byreference.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The invention relates to a dummy card cleaning device and, moreparticularly, to a dummy card cleaning device capable of being stored inan electronic device.

2. Description of the Related Art

For cleaning dust and maintaining a clean surface of a computer,cleaning tools, such like brush, are developed and provided. Tofacilitate hand carrying, conventional brushes that specially designedfor a portable computer are mostly pocket-sized. However, sinceconventional brushes are individual from the portable computer, the usermay feel awkward putting it in the pocket or might forget to bring, thusthe brushes cannot be felt free to use when in need.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The invention discloses a dummy card cleaning device capable of beingstored in the electronic device.

According to the invention, a non-functional component in the electronicdevice such as a dummy card, which is inserted in a card slot of aportable computer device to prevent infringement of the dust, isimproved to be a dummy card cleaning device that provides a cleaningfunction. Since the non-functional component is permanently disposed inthe electronic device, the user does not need to particularly bring it,and therefore is convenient to use.

According to the invention, the dummy card cleaning device is adapted tobe inserted in a card slot of an electronic device. The dummy cardcleaning device includes a body and a brush. The body is accommodatingto the card slot. The brush is connected to the body.

Therefore, according to the invention, the dummy card cleaning device isstored in the slot in the electronic device and carried along with theelectronic device to allow a free, rapid and convenient use as cleaningthe electronic device is require.

These and other features, aspects and advantages of the presentinvention will become better understood with regard to the followingdescription, appended claims, and accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of a first embodiment of the inventionshowing that a bristle of a dummy card cleaning device is stored;

FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram showing that a bristle of the dummy cardcleaning device in FIG. 1 is pulled out;

FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram showing a dummy card cleaning device in asecond embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram showing a dummy card cleaning device in athird embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 5 and FIG. 6 are schematic diagrams showing a dummy card cleaningdevice in a fourth embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 7 is a schematic diagram showing a dummy card cleaning device whosebody has a different shape in a fifth embodiment of the invention; and

FIG. 8 is an electronic device in an embodiment of the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS

FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram showing that a bristle of a dummy cardcleaning device is stored in a first embodiment of the invention. FIG. 2is a schematic diagram showing that a bristle of the dummy card cleaningdevice in FIG. 1 is pulled out. When a dummy card cleaning device 100 inthe invention is not used, it is inserted in a card slot 200 a of anelectronic device 200 for being stored (as shown in FIG. 8). Therefore,the dummy card cleaning device 100 may be brought along with theelectronic device 200 and therefore provides more convenience. The dummycard cleaning device 100 includes a body 102 and a brush 104. The body102 is accommodating to the card slot 200 a. If the electronic device200 is a notebook computer, the body 102 may be a dummy card of thenotebook computer. In the embodiment, the brush 104 comprises a bristle104 a and a handle 104 b. The handle 104 b has a track 104 d formed attwo sides to slidably engage with two opposite inner walls of anindentation 102 a formed in the body 102. Therefore, the brush 104 mayslide relative to the body 102, and thus the bristle 104 a isselectively retracted in the body 102 (as shown in FIG. 1) or extendingout of the body 102 (as shown in FIG. 2). When the bristle 104 a isextending out of the body 102, the dummy card cleaning device may beused to clean the electronic device 200. When the bristle 104 a isretracted in the body, the dummy card cleaning device then may insertedand stored in the card slot 200 a of the electronic device 200. In suchmanner, the bristle 102 b may not be worn seriously.

FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram showing a dummy card cleaning device in asecond embodiment of the invention. The bristle 102 b of the dummy cardcleaning device also may be fixedly disposed on the body 102 having theshape of dummy card. In the embodiment, the dummy card cleaning devicemay have a cover 106. When the cover 106 covering the body 102, thebristle 102 b is received in a recess 106 a of the cover 106, so as toprotect the bristle 102 b of the dummy card cleaning device when thedummy card cleaning device is inserted in the slot. The body 102 has anadditional positioning element 102 f. When the dummy card cleaningdevice is inserted in the slot, the positioning element 102 f engages acorresponding portion of the slot.

FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram showing the dummy card cleaning device ina third embodiment of the invention. In the third embodiment, a brush104 is embedded in the body 102 having the shape of dummy card. In theembodiment, the body 102 has an indentation 102 d and protrusions 102 eformed on the inner walls of the indentation 102 a of the body 102. Whenthe brush 104 is disposed in the indentation 102 d, the protrusions 102e engages the handle 104 b of the brush 104. Thus, the brush 104 b ispositioned in the indentation 102 d for being stored. The brush 104 maybe taken out of the indentation 102 d with applying a slight force whenit is needed.

FIG. 5 and FIG. 6 are schematic diagrams showing a dummy card cleaningdevice in the two status in a fourth embodiment of the invention. Thebrush 104 of the dummy card cleaning device also may be pivotallyconnected to a body 102. In the embodiment, the handle 104 b of thebrush 104 is pivotally connected to the body 102 by a pivot 104 c tomake the brush 104 selectively stored (as shown in FIG. 5) or extendingout (as shown in FIG. 6). When the dummy card cleaning device stored asshown in FIG. 5 is inserted in the card slot 200 a, the bristle 102 bmay not be worn. When the dummy card cleaning device is extending out(as shown in FIG. 6), it may be used for cleaning the electronic device200. In FIG. 5, the handle 104 b of the dummy card cleaning device mayrotate along a first direction 110 to extend the bristle 102 b out (asshown in FIG. 6).

FIG. 7 is a schematic diagram showing the dummy card cleaning devicewhose body has a different shape. In the embodiment, the bristle 104 ais, for example, fixed on the body 103. Notely, the other manners thatmount the brush on the body may also apply in the body 103 of presentembodiment. The dummy card cleaning device in the invention also may beused at any dummy cards for the external cards of the electronic devicein the future.

Said positioning portion may be formed on a top portion or side edge ofthe body (102 or 103) or the handle 104 b. Since the position and thestructure of the connecting mechanisms in the electronic devices aredifferent, and the positioning portions are also different, thepositioning portion is not illustrated in detail in present embodiment.

The invention may be adapted to electronic devices such as notebookcomputers, palm computers, desktop computers, personal digitalassistants (PDA), mobile phones, cameras or other portable electronicdevices or computers.

To sum up, the dummy card cleaning device in the invention may be storedin the slot of an electronic device to be brought along with theelectronic device. Thus, the user may immediately and conveniently getthe dummy card cleaning device from the slot for use.

Although the present invention has been described in considerable detailwith reference to certain preferred embodiments thereof, the disclosureis not for limiting the scope of the invention. Persons having ordinaryskill in the art may make various modifications and changes withoutdeparting from the scope and spirit of the invention. Therefore, thescope of the appended claims should not be limited to the description ofthe preferred embodiments described above.

1. A dummy card cleaning device adapted to be inserted in a card slot ofan electronic device, the dummy card cleaning device comprising: a bodybeing accommodating to the card slot; and a brush connected to the body.2. The dummy card cleaning device according to claim 1, wherein the bodyis a dummy card.
 3. The dummy card cleaning device according to claim 1,wherein the brush comprises a handle and a bristle.
 4. The dummy cardcleaning device according to claim 3, wherein the handle is slidablyengaged with the body.
 5. The dummy card cleaning device according toclaim 4, wherein the body has an indentation; and the handle is slidablyengaged with opposite inner walls of the indentation.
 6. The dummy cardcleaning device according to claim 3, wherein the handle is pivotallyconnected to the body.
 7. The dummy card cleaning device according toclaim 3, further comprising a cover, wherein the cover has a recess forreceiving the bristle.
 8. The dummy card cleaning device according toclaim 1, wherein the body further has an indentation having protrusionsformed at an inner wall of the indentation of the body to position thebrush.